Elements of Trench Warfare

by William H. Waldron

The first step in the training of a grenadier is to overcome his fear of the grenade itself. This is accomplished by first having him practice fuse lighting with dummy grenades having live fuses. The men will be impressed with the fact that the grenades are dangerous weapons and that familiarity in handling them must not be permitted to degenerate into carelessness.

The next step towards efficiency is the development of accuracy of throwing. For short distances it may be lobbed from the shoulder by a motion similar to "putting the shot." Stick grenades may be thrown for a short distance like throwing a dart. In the trenches the grenade should be thrown with an overhand motion like the bowler of a cricket ball, as there is danger of exploding them by knocking the hand against the back of the trench.

The men should be taught to throw from all positions—standing, sitting, kneeling and prone.

Should the grenade with a time fuse be dropped in the act of throwing, there is time to pick it up and throw it out of the trench before it explodes. Under no circumstances must it be allowed to explode in the trench.

Communication throughout the squad in action should be maintained at all times. System is required to insure the throwers having a supply of grenades on hand all the time and that casualties are promptly replaced.

Quick action is essential to success. Crawling and stalking give the enemy what he is waiting for.

Arrangements to assist a storming party by rifle and machine-gun fire are of the utmost value and should be provided whenever possible. Care must be taken to provide a signal which will mark the progress of the storming party through the trenches. A helmet held up on a bayonet will do this.

All grenadiers must be especially trained in the filling of sandbags and making sandbag barricades.

The work of the observer is difficult and requires much practice. He must give his directions to the thrower in no uncertain terms. When the thrower has missed his objective the observer will give positive directions for the next throw. Instead of saying "A yard too much to the left," he will say, "Throw a yard to the right." Positive directions, even if only half heard, are of some use; negative directions are certain to be both confused and confusing. The observer should be expert in the use of the periscope.